Nov. 19, 2021 — President Joe Biden is in “good spirits” following his journey to Walter Reed hospital at this time for his first annual physical examination and routine colonoscopy as commander-in-chief, based on White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki.
A colonoscopy is a medical procedure the place docs look at your giant intestine (colon) and your rectum.
A versatile tube with a small digicam on the tip is inserted inside your rectum, in order that docs can verify for indicators of colon cancer, bleeding, or every other abnormalities.
Because Biden went below anesthesia — a therapy that makes you sleepy and prevents you from feeling pain — he briefly transferred presidential energy to Vice President Kamala Harris, making her the primary girl in U.S. historical past to function performing president, although just for round 90 minutes.
The 25th modification to theConstitution permits for this switch of energy when a president is unable to meet their duties. These powers are then shifted to the vp, till the president paperwork in writing that he can, as soon as once more, totally resume his position.
Biden, who turns 79 tomorrow, is the oldest president in U.S. historical past.
His well being has been a scorching topic of dialog since he introduced he was working for workplace.
In 2019, Kevin O’Connor, DO, the White House doctor and Biden’s private physician for over a decade, launched a doc with particulars on Biden’s well being.
The report mentioned that Biden had been taking the drug Eliquis to assist stop blood clots, Crestor to decrease his triglycerides and cholesterol, Nexium for acid reflux, Allegra for allergies, and a nasal spray.
The doc additionally said that the president had been receiving therapy for atrial fibrillation, or an irregular heartbeat.
But O’Conner mentioned total, then-presidential candidate Biden was “a healthy, vigorous, 77-year-old male, who is fit to successfully execute the duties of the Presidency.”
Biden has had critical well being scares up to now, together with a mind aneurysm when he served as a U.S. senator in 1988.
Other procedures in Biden’s medical historical past embrace gall bladder removing in 2003, numerous surgical procedures for bone accidents, and the removing on nonmelanoma pores and skin cancers.
Biden continues to be scheduled to attend the annual White House turkey pardoning ceremony within the Rose Garden at this time.